Megacephalosaurus eulerti

Megacephalosaurus eulerti

Megacephalosaurus was a brachauchenine pliosaurid plesiosaur recently redescribed from the early Late Cretaceous Carlile Shale (middle Turonian stage) of Russell County, Kansas. The original Sternberg-prepared skull has been on exhibit at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History for decades as Brachauchenius lucasi. In partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, a mold of the unexposed side including the palate was obtained. Ken Carpenter and Bruce Schumacher worked with TPI artisans to reconstruct the completely inflated skull. Before the advent of mosasaurs, Megacephalosaurus would have been the marine reptile with the most gape to its maw in the Western Interior Seaway allowing it to tackle the largest prey it cared to.

Panel mount replica as displayed in the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.